Covid 19 Tests In Nigeria: What You Should Know, by Medbury Medicals

Do you need the COVID-19 test in Nigeria? Where should you take the test? Who should take the test? We will attempt to answer these questions and more in this post.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has underpinned the need for quality Covid testing globally. The drive to tightly control the COVID-19 virus demands the accurate application of diagnostic testing in large volumes to control outbreaks especially in developing countries such as Nigeria. With the results & data obtained from the tests, it becomes easier to reduce the spread of this novel viral disease. Implementation of appropriate therapy in case of positive results also becomes facile.

With the periodic surfacing of new ‘’variants of concern’’, the value of quality, appropriate COVID-19 testing in Nigeria cannot be overstated.

As an individual, taking the COVID-19 test is very important even if you are fully vaccinated. If you have come in contact with a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19, taking the Covid test is highly recommended.

In this post, we will be going over the different types of Covid tests, steps taken to get accurate results, and things to consider when searching for laboratories to take the test.

What Is The Covid 19 Test?

COVID-19 test is a molecular test conducted to identify genetic material from the COVID-19 Virus. To investigate a COVID-19 infection, medical experts typically analyze the upper respiratory specimen to detect the genetic material (ribonucleic acid-RNA) of the SARS-CoV-2.

Who Needs A COVID-19 Test In Nigeria?

You need the COVID-19 diagnostic test if:

• You have any of the COVID-19 symptoms, such as fever, cough, fatigue, shortness of breath, loss of taste and smell or sore throat.
• You have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 symptoms viz a  suspected case of COVID-19 or someone who tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.
• Your healthcare professional or your public health expert recommends you take a test.
• As part of travelling recommendations (and criteria for travel) to certain countries.
• You’ve been openly exposed to things that increase your chances of getting the virus such as travelling to areas highly endemic of the COVID-19 virus, crowded indoor settings, certain occupations (E.G. healthcare workers)
• Even if you’ve been fully vaccinated you still need to get tested if you’ve had close contact with someone who has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.

How Is The Covid 19 Test Done?

There are basically three steps to getting your test done and it involves the following:

• Collection of Samples: This involves collection of a naso-pharyngeal specimen by a health care provider using a nasopharyngeal swab and also collecting saliva specimens.

A nasal swab looks like a long Q-tip. It is inserted about two inches into your nose and swirled around for a few seconds. The swab is then removed and sent to a lab for testing. You may experience a tickling sensation while the swab is in your nose, and after it is removed, you might sneeze or have runny eyes for a moment or two.

Saliva tests are self-administered; this means that after you are shown how to perform the test, you’ll do it by yourself. You will spit several times into a funnel attached to a tube, and then screw on a cap to complete the test.

After the specimen has been collected, it will be sealed in a tube and taken to the laboratory for further testing.

• Performing the Test: Once the specimen has been collected, the lab scientist will isolate the sample collected. Precipitate the genetic material and quantify the nucleic acid concentration in the sample collected.
• Getting the Result: A positive test result shows that you have the SARS-CoV-2 infection. You can be symptomatic or asymptomatic. If you test positive you have to self-isolate to prevent the spread of the virus. If you become symptomatic and infections become critical, you need to contact your medical service provider.

A negative test result means you may not be infected with the SARS-CoV-2 infection. This however doesn’t mean you are completely safe and won’t be able to get the virus for life. There are still chances of getting infected and spreading the virus. Take precautions, stay safe, and use a mask.

Different Types Of Covid-19 Test In Nigeria

There are several types of COVID-19 tests. They include:

1. PCR, which is the gold-standard test. The sample is collected with a nasopharyngeal swab, and the results are available in about 12 to 24 hours.
2. Rapid Diagnostic Tests (Antigen or Antibody). Analyses require collecting antigen samples via nasopharyngeal swabs, and antibodies require blood samples. The results are available within 15 to 30 minutes.

Where To Take The Covid Test In Nigeria

There are a number of NCDC Approved Covid test centres where you can take the Covid-19 test in Nigeria. However, there are still things to consider before deciding where to take the test for quality, effectiveness, and accuracy:

• Do proper research on the laboratory centre around you before taking a COVID-19 test.
• Ensure that they have a state of the art facility to give accurate test results.
• Laboratory instruments are serviced and properly maintained.

If you are in Lagos and Port Harcourt, consider running your COVID-19 PCR test at Medbury Laboratories at an affordable rate. Our facilities and tests equipment are top-notch, we have helped a lot of Nigerians run their COVID-19 tests with a 0% incidence rate.

In conclusion, with appropriate, effective & quality COVID-19 diagnostic testing centres in Nigeria, people who test positive and have symptoms can get care earlier. Contacts can be traced and self-isolation can be effected as soon as possible to help stop the spread of the virus.

Book a test today!